This monsoon set to be longest in over 50 years

This year, the monsoon in Delhi is expected to be one of the longest since the Indian meteorological department started maintaining records in 1941

TNN | Updated: Oct 2, 2013, 00:06 IST

NEW DELHI: This year, the monsoon in Delhi is expected to be one of the longest since the Indian meteorological department started maintaining records in 1941. Having broken over Delhi on June 16, around 15 days before normal, the system is showing no signs of withdrawing so far. With another spell of rain expected around October 3 and 4, met officials say that withdrawal could happen around October 13.
Between June 1 and September 30, the city has recorded 875.8mm rainfall, 35mm more than normal for the period. The annual normal rainfall in Delhi is 780mm.

Earlier, the longest monsoon over Delhi was recorded in 1956. Dr O P Singh, deputy director general of the Delhi regional meteorological centre said, "The current monsoon is likely to be the longest over Delhi and NCR since the department had started maintaining records in 1941. Previously, the longest monsoon over Delhi was in 1956 when it lasted 111 days. In view of the predicted rainfall spells over Delhi in the coming week, the length of the 2013 monsoon could easily surpass it. The normal monsoon duration over the capital is only 85 days," he said.

The monsoon had set over the city on June 16 as a result of the rapid progression of low pressure from northwest Bay of Bengal on June 11. This had covered the whole of northwest India in a matter of days. It also resulted in the advance of the southwest monsoon over the entire country almost a month before normal and over Delhi and NCR about 15 days before normal. The season has been characterized by regular spells of rain over northwest India due to continuous formations of low pressure areas over the Bay of Bengal.

officials of the regional meteorological centre said that even though subdued monsoon activity was observed over Delhi during the first fortnight of September because of absence of monsoon circulation over northwest India, there was a sudden revival from September 21 when Safdarjung reported 28.6mm of rain.

"A low pressure system is present over Odisha and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal and a circulation over southeast Rajasthan. Due to this twin system, moist easterly winds are likely to prevail over northwest India" said an official.

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